Jacks

I'm coming in May and usually target flounder and spanish. I have never caught a jack though. What should I have rigged up to try and catch one when they come around the pier?

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]When the Jacks and Bulls attack the pier in a feeding frenzy, just take off your flip flop, put it on the hook and toss it out there amongst ‘em and it will be fish on!
Well it’s almost that easy. When they are fired up they will hit jigs, cigs, Gothcas and Yo-Zuri’s to mention a few

Heck I can even catch 'em even when I am trying not to. :poke1:

Thanks Fin! Is 200 yds of 12 lb test enough or should I use one of my larger rigs (280 yds. 15 lb. test) for jacks?

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt] I have won and lost with light tackle. With 15# you can get it to the gaff for sure. I usually don't bring 'em up unless they are holding on to one of my good Yo-Zuri’s

[quote author=TUCK link=topic=2980.msg27097#msg27097 date=1364251739]
Thanks Fin! Is 200 yds of 12 lb test enough or should I use one of my larger rigs (280 yds. 15 lb. test) for jacks?
[/quote]

Fin's right about when they come boiling through in a mood to feed. Have picked up an old shriveled up LY from the deck that was not much more than a skeleton with skin on it and chunked in the middle of em and hooked up. As to line (if you don't mind my jumping in), I'd say that's pretty marginal. A big jack bent on Cuba can peel line off in a hurry. Plus, they are a heavy load coming in. Unless you are confident of your ability to work your drag, I'd go with the bigger rig. Much better chance of getting one to the gaff.

X3 When they're feeding, just about anything hitting the water is likely getting eaten.

Jacks are pound for pound one of the best tug-a-wars to be had... Freight train with no brakes and wide open throttle.
280+ yards of 15-20# line will do just fine if you have your drag set properly when they hit and make their first run.

Since they're very seldom eaten, most won't gaff them unless you've a nice lure in'em or plan on using them as shark bait later.
It is better to pop them off so they have a good chance to live to fight another day.

Jacks are one of my favorite fights, a couple of big Jacks will have you hollering "Uncle!"

Steel leader or not?

All mine have been caught while targeting Kings, so I've always had a wire leader.

Never seemed to matter what kind of leader to me, I like using ling jigs personally, I use 80lb mono leader for them, but like fin said, a flip flop will probably work :headbang:

Problem with artificials is that when a big wad of them comes through, it's not unusual for 6 or 7 folks to hook up at one time. [size=14pt]Invariably,[/size] some yayhoo with braid will hook up on one end and not follow his fish. Then you end up with tight braid cutting across tight mono, ears, hands, and everything unfortunate enough to be in its way. Hot knife through butter. Thus one of the dislikes of braid on the pier by a lot of folks. Results in the occasional sharp knife accidentally bumping into said tight braid. :spank: